Adjustable pliers



Jime 17, 1952 MEAD 2,600,512

ADJUSTABLE PLIERS Filed Dec. 27, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEEJ 1 INVENTOR J'omer 14. Mesa ATTORN EYS June 17, 1952 H. A. MEAD 2,600,512

ADJUSTABLE PLIERS Filed Dec. 27, 1948 2. SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PAT ENIT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE PLIERS new A. Mead, Turlock, Calif.

Application; December 27, 1948, Serial'No. 67,100

(or. s'1,44)

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to, and it is an object to provide, improved pliers of adjustable, compound leverage type.

Another object of the invention is to provide pliers, as above, which include an improved adjustment, assembly; the latter being designed for ease and convenience of close, ready, and effective adjustment of said pliers.

A, further object of the invention is to, provide pliers wherein the adjustment assembly is of such novel design as to maintain the handles. in proper working position in any position of ad,- justment of said pliers; such handles, when the pliers are closed, always being apart at their free ends whereby to prevent pinching of the operators hand.

An additional object of the invention is to pro.- vide pliers which have a greater grip, or leverage on the jaws, when the pliers are adjusted, for relatively small work; this result being acoomrplished through the medium of the aforesaid novel adjusting assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide pliers which are constructed in a com.- pact manner; the pliers being relatively thin and not of undue width.

It is also an object of the. invention to provide pliers designed to minimize friction between the working parts, and to thereby reduce wear.

Still another object of the invention, is to prodle having an adjustment plate engaged between said shanks and adjustably pivoted to the latter in a novel manner. This pivoting arrangement includes a pair of longitudinally spaced pins projecting from opposite sides of said adjustment plate into slots in corresponding ,shanks; the slot in said one shank being diagonal thereof and notched for adjustable engagement by the corresponding pin, and the slot in the other shank being lengthwise thereof and engaged in fulcrum relation by its corresponding pin.

A further object of the invention is to provide pliers designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide practical and reliable pliers, and ones which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which they are designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the pliers, in one adjusted position and with the handles closed, taken from the side to which the adjusting slot opens.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but is, taken from the opposite side of; the pliers; the adjacent handle being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation, with the pliers set as in Fig. 1, but with the handles partly opened.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing the pliers set for full closing of the jaws.

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary elevation of the pliers with the handles full apart for adjustment of the jaw setting.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary edge elevation of the pliers.

In Figs. 1-5,, inclusive, the retention nuts have been omitted from. the pins for the purpose of clarity.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on, the drawings, the improved pliers comprise a. pair of cooperating jaws l and 2 having adjacent serrated Working faces 3 The jaws. I and 2 are formed with integral, flat shanks 4- and 5 disposed in generally overlapping relation; said shanks 4 and 5 being in parallel but spaced apart relation by reason of the structural arrangement hereinafter described.

At its inner end, the shank 4 includes a boss 5 which bears againstthe other shank; such shanks being pivoted together through the boss, as at l.

The shank 4- merges rearwardly of the pivot i into an integral handle 8.; the other and cooperating handle. of the pliers being indicated at 5.

Such other handle 9 is formed, at its forward end portion, with a flat, elongated adjustment plate H]. which is enga ed, in face to face relation, between the flat shanks l and 5.

The. flat, elongated adjustment plate it is fitted, at its forward end portion, with a pair of fixed, longitudinally Spaced pins ii and i2 which project laterally outwardly from opposite sides of said adjustment plate.v The pin i 5 may be termed the. adjustment pin, while the pin [2 may be termed the, fulcrum pin.

The adjustment pin ll projects through an elongated adjustment slot l3 formed in the shank 4 in diagonal relation to the longitudinal median line of said shank, while the fulcrum pin 12 projects. through an elongated fulcrum slotv [4 formed in the-shank 5 lengthwise. of and substantially on, the longitudinal median line-of the latter.

With the above arrangement it will be noted that in all adjusted positions of the parts of the pliers, the slots, i3 and I4 are generallyin. interseating relation to each other.

The outer longitudinal edge of the adjustment slot l3 comprises a row of substantially semicircular notches 1-5; the adj tme t p H 1. a y bearin in on 0 sa d n tches bu be square sided. as at '6... so. that wh n rotated a part circle and freed fromsaid n ch. such pin may be moved lengthwise of the slot l3 for engagement in another one of said notches l5. Such adjustment is accomplished by swinging the handle 9 to a position projecting laterally of the tool, as in Fig. 5, at which time the square side I6 of pin U will bear against, and ride along, the straight inner edge of the adjustment slot I3. In this manner the adjustment pin I I can be readily and conveniently changed from one notch I5 to another.

The pins II and I2 are fitted, on their outer ends, with retention nuts 11, which are only sufiicien'tly tight to maintain the proper relationship of the parts, without causing frictional binding.

The adjustment pm I l is selectively set in the notches I5 for the purpose of adjusting the spacing of the jaws I and 2 of the pliers; the design of the adjusting assembly including the pins I! and I2 working in the slots I3 and i4, respectively, being such that in any position of adjustment of said pliers the handles 8 and 9 assume substantially the same working positions. Additionally, in any position of adjustment the han dles 8 and 9, when fully closed, remain apart at their free ends whereby to not pinch the operators hand; the adjacent portion of the adjustment plate I having a diagonal edge E which abuts against the boss 5, as in Fig. 2.

As the adjustment plate I0 moves to different positions of adjustment, the diagonal edge E rests at a new position on the boss 6 adjacent pivot l holding the ends of the handles the desired distance apart; the diagonal edge of the adjustment plate extending in generally the same direction and working in corresponding relation to the diagonal adjusting slot I3.

By reason of the generally intersecting relationship of the slots I3 and M, with such slots extending in the respective shanks in the directions previously described, the pins II and I2 work in the slots to provide a most effective leverage, or working pressure of the jaws, when the handles 8 and 9 are moved relatively toward each other.

In any position of adjustment of the pliers the pin l I tends to work into the related notch I so as not to drag the opposite side of the slot I3 this preventing any possible binding, and minimizing wear and friction. It should also be noted that by reason of the particular slot and pin assembly the pin I2 tends to roll rather than slide in the slot [4 when the handles 8 and 9 are moved together or apart relative to each other. Here again is a beneficial feature in the reduction of working friction, and the minimization of wear.

Another advantageous feature of the described pliers resides in the fact that when the pliers are adjusted for engagement of the jaws I and 2 with relatively smaller work, the gripping leverage is increased; this being by reason of the fact that the pins I I and I2 are then closer to said jaws than otherwise. See Fig. 4.

The pliers as described above are a very practical and convenient tool; the adjustment of the jaws being accomplished by ready and easy manipulation of the handle 9 relative to handle 8. When in any adjusted position the leverage is compounded by the pin and slot arrangement so that there is forceful action of the jaws I and 2 against the work upon relative approaching motion of said handles 8 and 9; there being no tendency of the adjustment mechanism to slip or release when the pliers are in action.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A pliers comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, a shank integral with one jaw depending therefrom, a handle integral with the shank and depending therefrom, a shank integral with the other jaw and depending therefrom in spaced relation to the first named shank, a fixed-position pivot connecting the shanks at their lower end, another handle opposed to said first named handle, a plate rigid with said other handle and projecting between the shanks, the first shank having a longitudinal slot diagonal to the working face of the corresponding jaw and sloping down and away form said face, the other shank having a longitudinal slot substantially parallel to the working face of the corresponding jaw, a pin turnably projecting from one side of the plate into and movable along the first named slot, and another pin turnably projecting from th other side of the plate into and movable along the other slot; the pins being spaced lengthwise of the plate with the first named pin nearest th jaws; there being means between the first named pin and the corresponding slot to releasably lock said pin in selected positions of adjustment along said corresponding slot.

2. A pliers comprising a pair of cooperating jaws, a shank integral with one jaw depending therefrom, a handle integral with the shank and depending therefrom, a shank integral with the other jaw and depending therefrom in spaced relation to the first named shank, a fixed-position pivot connecting the shanks at their lower end, another handle opposed to said first named handle, a plate rigid with said other handle and projecting between the shanks, both shanks having a longitudinal slot therein and the slot in the first named shank sloping downwardly and inwardly diagonal to the slot in the other shank, a pin turnably projecting from one side of the plate into and movable along the slot in the first named shank, and another pin turnably projecting from the other side of the plate into and movable along the slot in said other shank; the pins being spaced lengthwise of the plate with the first named pin nearest the jaws; there being means between one pin and the corresponding slot to releasably lock said pin in selected positions of adjustment along said corresponding slot.

HOMER A. MEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 601,506 Eames Mar. 29, 1898 1,520,613 Thim Dec. 23, 1924 1,850,664 Daniels Mar. 22, 1932 2,150,496 Ericsson Mar. 14, 1939 2,445,480 Gantt July 20, 1948 

